India’s rich cultural heritage is manifested not only in Delhi’s historical monuments and architectural masterpieces, but also in its diverse museums.
Delhi’s museums cover all areas from ancient civilizations to modern technology, from traditional crafts to contemporary art. Visitors can find collections suitable for every interest.
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Best museums in Delhi
National Museum
One of India’s most significant cultural institutions, showcasing the thousands of years of history and artistic traditions of the Indian subcontinent.
The museum is located in the heart of the city and rightfully stands as the country’s most important historical and artistic collection. Its history dates back to 1949, when it opened to the public. The building was specifically designed for museum purposes, so every detail serves the optimal presentation of the collections.
The collection counts more than 200,000 artifacts, spanning India’s history from the Indus Valley Civilization to the modern era. The museum boasts numerous unique treasures, including artifacts from the Harappan culture, Gandhara art works, Gupta-period sculptures, and medieval miniatures.
Particularly noteworthy is the museum’s numismatic collection, which documents India’s monetary history, as well as the textile collection, which showcases the development of the subcontinent’s weaving arts. The weapons collection provides insight into Mughal and Rajput warrior culture.
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National Gallery of Modern Art
The most important venue for showcasing India’s contemporary and modern art in Delhi. The institution’s primary goal is to preserve and present the development of Indian modern art from the 19th century to the present day.
The gallery opened in 1954 and has been continuously expanding since then. The building’s modern architecture perfectly complements the artistic works housed within. The institution plays an important role in researching and documenting Indian art history, contributing to the international recognition of modern Indian art through numerous scholarly publications and exhibitions.
The collection includes works by India’s most significant modern artists – including Amrita Sher-Gil, M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, and Tyeb Mehta. The museum shows through paintings, sculptures, and graphic works how Indian art transformed after the colonial period.
Particularly noteworthy are the artists of the Bengal Renaissance, who first combined traditional Indian themes with European techniques. The gallery also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions showcasing the work of contemporary Indian artists.
All information can be found here!
Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum
The institution showcasing the life and political career of India’s former Prime Minister has special significance, as it is located in the house where Indira Gandhi lived and where she was assassinated in 1984.
The museum opened in 1985, one year after Indira Gandhi’s death. The building serves simultaneously as a memorial site and historical documentation center. The purpose of creating the museum was to preserve Gandhi’s legacy and showcase her role in India’s modern history. The building’s original furnishings were largely left untouched, so visitors can gain insight into the Prime Minister’s daily life.
The museum’s rich collection includes Indira Gandhi’s personal belongings, correspondence, photographs, and video recordings. The exhibition presents her life through documents, relics, periodicals, books, audiovisual materials, photographs, and artistic works.
A special section presents the history of the Nehru-Gandhi family, documenting key periods of India’s independence and democratic development. In the museum’s courtyard is the place where Indira Gandhi began her final journey and where she lost her life.
All information can be found here!
National Rail Museum
Located in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic quarter in New Delhi, this museum showcases the 166-year history of India’s railway development, from steam locomotives to modern high-speed trains.
It opened on February 1, 1977, and has recently become one of Delhi’s main tourist attractions. The purpose of establishing the institution was to preserve India’s railway heritage and showcase the role of railways in the country’s modernization and unification. The museum’s outdoor nature allows for authentic presentation of large-scale vehicles and interactive visitor experiences.
The museum’s impressive collection includes historical photographs, artifacts, models of static and operational trains, and much more. This is a massive, eleven-hectare open-air museum displaying a large number of various types of locomotives, engines, and carriages.
Outstanding pieces in the collection include the Fairy Queen, the world’s oldest still-operating steam locomotive, as well as the Patiala State Monorail and various royal salon cars. The museum also features a mini railway on which visitors can travel.
All information can be found here!
Shankar Doll Museum
Officially known as Shankar’s International Dolls Museum, it houses one of the world’s largest and most interesting doll collections.
The museum spans 5,000 square meters, divided into two sections – one showcases dolls from Western nations, the second displays dolls from India and Asian countries. The museum’s enchanting and diverse collection contains dolls from all corners of the world, providing fascinating insights into different cultures and traditions through beautifully crafted figures.
The museum was founded by K. Shankar Pillai, a cartoonist famous for his political caricatures. The institution’s purpose was to showcase the folk art and traditions of different cultures through the world of dolls. The museum makes the customs, costume history, and artistic traditions of different peoples tangible and understandable through dolls.
The collection counts more than 6,000 dolls from 85 different countries. The museum also features a workshop area where visitors can observe the doll-making process. Special pieces in the exhibition include dolls dressed in traditional Indian attire, showcasing the folk costumes of India’s different states, as well as European porcelain dolls and African tribal dolls.
All information can be found here!
Crafts Museum (Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy)
Offers one of Delhi’s most authentic cultural experiences, where visitors can directly encounter India’s living craft traditions.
This special institution is not just a museum, but also a functioning craft center where master craftsmen still work today. The museum’s purpose is to preserve and showcase India’s rich craft heritage and ensure the continuity of these traditions.
The collection includes craft works from every region of India, from textiles to ceramics, wood carvings to metalwork. Traditional Indian fabrics, pottery, jewelry, and wood carvings are made here. In the museum shop, visitors can purchase authentic craft products directly from the makers.
All information can be found here!
National Science Centre
One of India’s most important scientific educational centers showcasing the wonders of natural science through interactive exhibitions.
Indira Gandhi, later Prime Minister, stated about the museum that India needed such a museum that maintains an environmentally conscious approach at the center of attention. After several years of development and construction, the museum opened its doors to the visiting public on June 5, 1978, on World Environment Day. The timing of the institution’s opening had symbolic significance, emphasizing the connection between science and environmental protection.
The museum’s collection broadly covers the fields of natural sciences – from physics and chemistry to biology and astronomy. The exhibitions are interactive in nature, allowing visitors to experience scientific phenomena through experiments. Particularly popular are the physics experiments, planetarium shows, and 3D scientific films.
All information can be found here!
Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
A unique institution in the world that presents the history of hygiene. Though unusual, this museum carries an important social message in the field of public health and environmental protection.
It has a rare collection of images, facts, and objects related to hygiene and sanitation, reflecting development from 2500 BC to the present day. The museum is located in the Dwarka district, in the massive Sulabh International Complex on Palam Dabri Road, in Mahavir Enclave.
The museum places great emphasis on hygiene, etiquette, and healthy sanitary practices. Here you can see models of ancient Roman baths, medieval European „wardrobe” constructions, Victorian era porcelain toilets, and modern ecological solutions. The museum dedicates a separate exhibition section to the toilet customs of different cultures.
All information can be found here!